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Sumit SinghalSumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination.

Cabué House in Argentina, Patagonia by Nomade Architects

This 130 m² house is constructed in “Los Huemules” Ecological Reserve, 10 km from El Chalten town in the southern part of Santa Cruz province, Argentina. The Patagonian natural environment that surrounds the project was the most important input for designing this residence: the scale of the construction is aligned with the forest canopy providing a contained horizontal view from the interior to the sheltered heart of the forest.

The design’s limits are gradual and subtle, achieving a peaceful natural-artificial relation by means of elevating the ground slab 45cm from the original geography allowing the undergrowth to pass undisturbed beneath the house.

Image Courtesy Nomade Architects

FUNCTIONAL PROGRAM

The functionality of the residence admits in a modest surface a flexible use apart from the typical family structure. There is a clear separation between the more public spaces from the more private areas of the house, each one being modeled to its particular needs.

Image Courtesy Nomade Architects

IMAGE AND MATERIAL

The contemporary aesthetics are materialized by traditional constructive means creating a warm and practical assemble. The exterior finishing is a combination of wood and corrugated sheet metal, a characteristic adopted from the original local settlers, with a design in which the function harmoniously defines the general lines. The general horizontality of the house is intentionally relating the house with the “Lenga” forest that surrounds it.

Image Courtesy Nomade Architects

ECOLOGICAL SUSTAINABILITY

Due to the clients petitions and the designers own interest the project was thought out with an ecological conscience. The wood used was certified ensuring the preservation of primary forests, which was coated with used motor oil contributing to the wood’s durability in a resourceful manner. The winding road that approaches the house follows the route that preserves the largest number of trees, therefore not only sustaining nature but also ensuring shelter from the high local winds.